THE first case of mystery coronavirus in the US is set to be announced today, according to federal sources.
It’s thought the person struck down by the virus is in Washington State.
The American patient was hospitalised for pneumonia last week and had recently travelled to Wuhan, China where the respiratory disease was first spotted.
The patient tested positive for coronavirus over the weekend with officials stating the unidentified person is “quite ill”.
The virus is feared to be rapidly spreading across the globe.
It’s estimated hundreds have been struck down by the virus, which is baffling docs, with six dead says CNN.
Chinese officials faced a race against time to contain the deadly new virus, which has cold-like symptoms.
WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS?
Coronavirus is an airborne virus, spread in a similar way to colds and the flu.
The virus attacks the respiratory system, causing lung lesions.
Symptoms include a runny nose, headache, cough and fever, shortness of breath, chills and body aches.
It is incredibly contagious and is spread through contact with anything the virus is on as well as infected breath, coughs or sneezes.
In 2003 an outbreak of a similar virus, SARS, killed more than 900 around the world within weeks.
The virus may have already spread to Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan.
The outbreak has caused havoc as thousands prepare to travel for the Chinese Lunar New Year.
And stock losses were seen around the world as worries deepened about the virus outbreak, Asian stocks dropped sharply, while European markets also stumbled on concerns that the new coronavirus spreading in the world’s second-largest economy could hurt tourism and ultimately economic growth and corporate profits.